11:43 a.m. ET, November 22, 2023
Yemen’s Houthi naval forces again warn of Israeli ships in the Red Sea
By CNN’s Hamdi Alkhshali
In a statement released on Wednesday, the Houthi naval forces renewed its warning to ships in the Red Sea that were Israeli-flagged, managed by Israeli companies or owned by Israelis.
The group declared its intention to continue military operations against Israeli vessels and interests until Israel’s “aggression against Gaza ceases.”
The statement warned all military units protecting Israeli ships, saying they would be considered legitimate targets for Houthi operations.
In addition, the naval force warned all companies and traders not to transport their goods or interests using Israeli ships, emphasizing possible consequences.
According to the statement, the Houthi naval forces urged all ships transiting the Red Sea to stay away from Israeli ships and strongly discouraged deactivating identification devices.
Cargo ship seized: On Sunday, the Israeli military said a cargo ship had been hijacked in the southern Red Sea.
The cargo ship Galaxy Leader was hijacked by the Houthis in the Red Sea on Sunday with about 25 crew members on board. It will be operated by Japanese shipping and logistics company Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) Line, Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said on Monday.
Japan is currently working with Israel and has called on Saudi Arabia, Oman and Iran to urge the Houthis to release the ship and crew as soon as possible.
The United States is calling for “the immediate release” of the cargo ship and its crew seized by the Houthis in the Red Sea, State Department spokesman Matt Miller said Monday.
Further background information: The Israeli military said late last month it had foiled an airstrike by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. A U.S. warship also fired four cruise missiles and 15 drones over a nine-hour period on Oct. 19 near the Yemeni coast as it headed north along the Red Sea, according to a U.S. official familiar with the situation. Their trajectory left little doubt that the projectiles were headed toward Israel, the official said.
Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said the missiles were fired by Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen and “may have been aimed at targets in Israel.” US interception of Houthi missile launches is extremely rare.
Iran has continued to train and arm the Houthis in Yemen, as well as the Syrian regime, Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Gaza, despite decades of draconian U.S.-inspired sanctions.